Greatest Teams in American Basketball Association History
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In nine chaotic seasons, the American Basketball Association (ABA) became known more for its red, white and blue ball and high flyers than its legendary teams.
To be fair, there were still some great ABA teams, though, the best of which are remembered here.
30. 1967-68 Minnesota Muskies
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Record: 50-28 (.641)
How they finished: Lost Eastern Division finals
Top eight: Mel Daniels, Donnie Freeman, Les Hunter, Ron Perry, Sam Smith, Erv Inniger, Skip Thoren, Errol Palmer
Bottom line: Hey, look — an ABA team that played lockdown defense and couldn’t shoot worth a spit! Rookie sensation Mel Daniels and his co-conspirators could also rebound — a league-best plus 11.8 per game. That unlikely combination was enough to win 50 games and one playoff series.
Note: The top eight players for each are listed in order of minutes played per regular season game.
29. 1969-70 Denver Rockets
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Record: 51-33 (.607)
How they finished: Lost Western Division finals
Top eight: Spencer Haywood, Larry Jones, Byron Beck, Jeff Congdon, Lonnie Wright, Julian Hammond, Julius Keye, Walt Piatkowski
Bottom line: League scoring leader Spencer Haywood (30.0) and sidekick Larry Jones (24.9) formed the best inside-outside tandem in the league. But after the defending champions Washington Capitols (formerly the Oakland Oaks) took them to seven games in the postseason opener, the Rockets choked in round two.
28. 1975-76 San Antonio Spurs
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Record: 50-34 (.595)
How they finished: Lost league semifinals
Top eight: James Silas, Larry Kenon, Billy Paultz, George Gervin, Mark Olberding, Mike Gale, Alan Bristow, Coby Dietrick
Bottom line: Ex-New York Nets Larry Kenon and Billy Paultz gave their former team all it could handle in round one of the playoffs. And if All-Star floor leader James Silas hadn’t sat out the final six games because of a bum ankle, they quite possibly would have been part of the final championship series in ABA history.
27. 1971-72 Kentucky Colonels
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Record: 68-16 (.810)
How they finished: Lost Eastern Division semifinals
Top eight: Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Louie Dampier, Cincy Powell, Mike Gale, Jimmy O’Brien, Walt Simon, Les Hunter
Bottom line: While Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore played like King Kong and Godzilla in the regular season, the Colonels barely broke a sweat in the regular season. But when Rick Barry and the New York Nets slayed the beast in the first round of the playoffs, they went from championship favorites to massive underachievers in no time.
26. 1975-76 Denver Nuggets
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Record: 60-24 (.631)
How they finished: Lost ABA Finals
Top eight: David Thompson, Ralph Simpson, Bobby Jones, Dan Issel, Chuck Williams, Byron Beck. Gus Gerard, Claude Terry
Bottom line: As the No. 1 playoff seed, coach Larry Brown’s squad had visions of the final league championship. But after a close call against the Kentucky Colonels in the semis, they had no answer for Julius Erving and the New York Nets in a hotly contested championship series.
25. 1968-69 Indiana Pacers
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Record: 44-34 (.564)
How they finished: Lost ABA Finals
Top eight: Freddie Lewis, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, Bob Netolicky, Bobby Hooper, George Peeples, Don Dee, Jay Miller
Bottom line: When coach Bob Leonard came aboard after a 2-7 start, the seeds of the Pacers dynasty were planted. It took the best team in league history to beat them in the final round. What — you thought I was gonna tell you who it was and ruin the suspense?
24. 1973-74 Kentucky Colonels
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Record: 53-31 (.631)
How they finished: Lost Eastern Division semifinals
Top eight: Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore, Louie Dampier, Mike Gale, Jimmy O’Brien, Walt Simon, Ronald Thomas, Collis Jones
Bottom line: When the Colonels swept the Carolina Cougars in their postseason opener, the Bluegrass State had high hopes for an elusive league championship. Not so fast, though. While Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore were left to fend for themselves, Julius Erving and the New York Nets knocked them on their bluegrass in another sweep.
23. 1973-74 Indiana Pacers
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Record: 46-38 (.548)
How they finished: Lost Western Division finals
Top eight: George McGinnis, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, Darnell Hillman, Donnie Freeman, Freddie Lewis, Don Buse, Bob Netolicky
Bottom line: This marked the last hurrah for veterans Roger Brown, Mel Daniels and Freddie Lewis after six memorable seasons. The core group wasn’t about to go out quietly. They advanced to the division finals on little more than memory before the curtain came down in Game 7 against the Utah Stars in Salt Lake City.
22. 1973-74 Utah Stars
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Record: 51-33 (.607)
How they finished: Lost ABA Finals
Top eight: Willie Wise, Jimmy Jones, Ron Boone, Gerald Govan, Zelmo Beaty, Bruce Seals, Johnny Neumann, John Beasley
Bottom line: The shooting Stars, indeed — they led the league in 2-point field goal, free throw and eFG percentages. What they didn’t do nearly as well was rebound, however, and that proved to be their undoing against the New York Nets in the championship round.
21. 1970-71 Virginia Squires
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Record: 55-29 (.655)
How they finished: Lost Eastern Division finals
Top eight: Charlie Scott, George Carter, Mike Barrett, Doug Moe, Jim Eakins, Neil Johnson, Ray Scott, Fatty Taylor
Bottom line: When the Squires were allowed to play an up-tempo game, there was no more potent team in the league. Problem was, that style wasn’t conducive to an extended playoff run. In round two, the Kentucky Colonels frustrated them with a more deliberate pace, while Dan Issel exploited their weakness in the middle.
20. 1974-75 Denver Nuggets
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Record: 65-19 (.774)
How they finished: Lost Western Division finals
Top eight: Ralph Simpson, Mack Calvin, Bobby Jones, Mike Green, Fatty Taylor, Dave Robisch, Byron Beck, Jan van Breda Kolff
Bottom line: This team had coach Larry Brown written all over it. The regular season leaders in field goal percentage, assists, points, steals and victories played at the most frenetic pace in the league. What could possibly go wrong in the playoffs? In Game 7 of the division finals, just about everything. The Indiana Pacers slowed the tempo to a crawl, the home team shot 37 percent in the field, and its title aspirations collapsed with a loud thud.
19. 1974-75 Indiana Pacers
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Record: 45-39 (.524)
How they finished: Lost ABA Finals
Top eight: George McGinnis, Kevin Joyce, DarnellHillman, Billy Knight, Don Buse, Billy Keller, Len Elmore, Bob Netolicky
Bottom line: The familiar faces of champion teams past were no longer around. These Pacers had no starter older than 25 years old, but Coach Bob Leonard had them ready come playoff time as usual. It took a more savvy and talented Kentucky Colonels team to put them to bed in the championship round.
18. 1972-73 Utah Stars
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Record: 55-29 (.655)
Top eight: Willie Wise, Jimmy Jones, Zelmo Beaty, Ron Boone, Glen Combs, Gerald Govan, Cincy Powell, Bob Warren
How they finished: Lost Western Division finals
Bottom line: This deep and talented Stars team didn’t lose in the end. It was some Indiana Pacers home cookin’ that beat ’em. At least that’s what their die-hards would tell you. In the decisive sixth game, the bread-and-butter backcourt of Ron Boone and Jimmy Jones was saddled with severe foul trouble in the second half, which helped snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
17. 1970-71 Kentucky Colonels
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Record: 44-40 (.524)
How they finished: Lost ABA Finals
Top eight: Dan Issel, Louie Dampier, Cincy Powell, Jim Ligon, Darel Carrier, Les Hunter, Walt Simon, Mike Pratt
Bottom line: The Colonels went through three coaches in a tumultuous regular season, but unlike so many teams in their history, this veteran bunch was determined. Rookie sensation Dan Issel provided some badly needed young legs, not to mention a league-high 29.9 points per game, and the Utah Stars had all they could handle in the final round.
16. 1971-72 Utah Stars
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Record: 60-24 (.714)
How they finished: Lost West Division finals
Top eight: Willie Wise, Zelmo Beaty, Jimmy Jones, Glen Combs, Red Robbins, Ron Boone, Mervin Jackson, Manny Leaks
Bottom line: How many times have you seen a championship team ride an emotional wave into the next season, only to come up flat in the end? Here’s another one. The debut of coach LaDell Anderson couldn’t have gone better until the playoffs, at which point a lack of depth undid the lone Stars team from reaching the 60-win plateau in the regular season.
15. 1971-72 New York Nets
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Record: 44-40 (.524)
How they finished: lost ABA Finals
Top eight: Rick Barry, Bill Melchionni, Billy Paultz, John Roche, Tom Washington, Ollie Taylor, Gene Moore, Jim Ard
Bottom line: In the most insane upset in ABA playoffs history, Rick Barry and his supporting cast shocked the 68-win Kentucky Colonels in round one. Injuries and illness sabotaged their Cinderella run two series later — but not before Barry had enhanced his legend as one of the greatest underdog players to ever play the game.
14. 1971-72 Indiana Pacers
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Record: 47-37 (.560)
How they finished: Won ABA championship
Top eight: Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, Freddie Lewis, Bob Netolicky, George McGinnis, Rick Mount, Billy Keller, Darnell Hillman
Bottom line: There were more talented teams than the Pacers around the league. But what they had was an identity from which they rarely strayed. They played smart, they played tough, and they played together. This team was all of that en route to the second of three league titles.
13. 1967-68 New Orleans Buccaneers
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Record: 48-30 (.615)
How they finished: Lost ABA Finals
Top eight: Jimmy Jones, Doug Moe, Larry Brown, Jackie Moreland, Red Robbins, Jesse Branson, Gerald Govan, Leland Mitchell
Bottom line: Tell me, Alexa, is it possible that these Bucs remain the best pro basketball team in New Orleans history? I am sad to say, this is more fact than fiction. Babe McCarthy’s bunch had everything except deep depth. And a superstar talent such as Connie Hawkins, who practically beat them by himself in the final round.
12. 1971-72 Virginia Squires
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Record: 45-39 (.536)
How they finished: Lost Eastern Division finals
Top eight: Charlie Scott, Julius Erving, Jim Eakins, Fatty Taylor, Doug Moe, Bernie Williams, George Irvine, Willie Sojourner
Bottom line: The pro debut of Julius Erving was an artistic success even if few actually witnessed it. The Squires fell one fell one dubyah short of an ABA Finals appearance — but not before Dr. J gave the league a desperately needed marquee attraction, even if he was woefully out of place. Seriously, Doc in Hampton Roads would be like Jimi Hendrix with The Spinners.
11. 1972-73 Carolina Cougars
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Record: 57-27 (.679)
How they finished: Lost Eastern Division finals
Top eight: Billy Cunningham, Joe Caldwell, Tom Owens, Mack Calvin, Steve Jones, Gene Littles, Ted McClain, Ed Manning
How they finished: Lost Eastern Division finals
Bottom line: In the regular season, the Cougars owned the best record in a top-heavy league. They also were one victory away from a trip to the championship round. But when the normally reliable backcourt of Mack Calvin and Steve Jones suddenly became invisible, a 3-2 lead against the Kentucky Colonels in the division finals vanished into thin air.
10. 1972-73 Kentucky Colonels
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Record: 56-28 (.667)
How they finished: Lost ABA Finals
Top eight: Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore, Louie Dampier, Rick Mount, Walt Simon, Mike Gale, Jimmy O’Brien, Bill Chamberlain
Bottom line: Year Two of the Artis Gilmore era went off without a hitch ... until it came time to close the deal. The Colonels dropped three home games against the Indiana Pacers in the championship series, destined to become known as one of the best ABA teams never to win it all.
9. 1975-76 New York Nets
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Record: 55-29 (.655)
How they finished: Won ABA Finals
Top eight: Julius Erving, Brian Taylor, John Williamson, Rich Jones. Kim Hughes, Al Skinner, Swen Nater, Tim Bassett
Bottom line: After the embarrassment of the previous postseason, the front office wonks were quick to make personnel moves. The result was a second league title in three years, but it did not come without a struggle. Julius Erving and company had to survive a tense seven-game slugfest versus the San Antonio Spurs in the semis.
8. 1972-73 Indiana Pacers
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Record: 51-33 (.607)
How they finished: won ABA Finals
Top eight: George McGinnis, Mel Daniels, Freddie Lewis, Darnell Hillman, Roger Brown, Donnie Freeman, Billy Keller, Don Buse
Bottom line: En route to the only repeat championship in ABA history, the battled-tested Pacers proved yet again that they could never be counted out in the playoffs. With George McGinnis in the star role, they eliminated the Utah Stars and Kentucky Colonels, two of the three teams that finished ahead of them in the 84-game schedule.
7. 1970-71 Indiana Pacers
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Record: 58-26 (.702)
How they finished: Lost Western Conference finals
Top eight: Roger Brown, Mel Daniels, Bob Netolicky, Freddie Lewis, Billy Keller, Warren Jabali, Art Becker. John Barnhill
Bottom line: Metrics say this was the most dominant Pacers team in the regular season. Maybe so. But with a repeat championship on the line, coach Bob Leonard’s guys didn’t finish the job. The culprit was a backcourt-induced coma against the Utah Stars in Game 7 of the conference semis.
6. 1970-71 Utah Stars
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Record: 57-27 (.679)
How they finished: Won ABA Finals
Top eight: Zelmo Beaty, Red Robbins, Glen Combs, Willie Wise, Mervin Jackson, Ron Boone, Jeff Congdon, George Stone
Bottom line: The transplanted Los Angeles Stars were the hottest thing to hit Salt Lake City since the Gold Rush. Two former NBA stars had a lot to do with it. One was coach Bill Sharman. The other would be Zelmo Beaty, whose 36 points and 16 rebounds against the Kentucky Colonels were the difference in Game 7 of the championship series.
5. 1967-68 Pittsburgh Pipers
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Record: 54-24 (.692)
How they finished: Won ABA Finals
Top eight: Connie Hawkins, Art Heyman, Charlie Williams, Chico Vaughn, Ira Harge, Tom Washington, Craig Dill, Jim Jarvis
Bottom line: No sooner did the Red, White and Blue make its debut than Connie Hawkins showed the other one what might have been. The first league superstar put up stat lines of 26.8/13.5/4.6/ in the regular season and 29.9/12.3/4/6 in the playoffs to pull off a rare Most Valuable Player double.
4. 1969-70 Indiana Pacers
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Record: 59-25 (.702)
How they finished: Won ABA Finals
Top eight: Roger Brown, Bob Netolicky, Mel Daniels, Freddie Lewis, John Barnhill, Art Becker, Billy Keller, Tom Thacker
Bottom line: The Pacers left nothing to doubt in their most dominant season — they were the best team in the regular season and the best in the postseason. After they blew Game 3 on the road in the title round, Roger Brown took it personally. One of the best players too few ever saw went off for 53, 39 and 45 points in the next three games.
3. 1974-75 Kentucky Colonels
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Record: 58-26 (.690)
How they finished: Won ABA Finals
Top eight: Artis Gilmore, Louie Dampier, Dan Issel, Wil Jones, Ted McClain, Bird Averitt, Jim Bradley, Marv Roberts
Bottom line: Here was the antithetical Colonels team — one that got better as the season grew longer. Artis Gilmore anchored a vice-like defense that ranked first in opponents field goal percentage and points allowed. The final chapter couldn’t have been sweeter — a five-game smackdown of the Indiana Pacers, their longtime nemesis.
2. 1973-74 New York Nets
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Record: 55-29 (.655)
How they finished: Won ABA Finals
Top eight: Julius Erving, Larry Kenon, Billy Paultz, Brian Taylor, John Williamson, John Roche, Bill Melchionni, Willie Sojourner
Bottom line: The final season in ABA history gave us Julius Erving at his stratospheric best, as his Win Share totals would be the highest of his career across the board. The Doctor and his practitioners required a mere 15 games to slice and dice the playoff competition, the best postseason winning percentage in league history.
1. 1968-69 Oakland Oaks
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Record: 60-18 (.769)
How they finished: Won ABA Finals
Top eight: Rick Barry, Warren Armstrong, Doug Moe, Larry Brown, Gary Bradds, Ira Harge, Henry Logan, Jim Eakins
Bottom line: Why are the Oaks numerous uno? At 26-4, they were on pace for a pro basketball record 68 wins (the equivalent of 71 in the current 82-game season) before uberstar Rick Barry blew out his left knee. That they proceeded to win it all without him vouched for their utter dominance. This group boasted the best all-around talent (Barry), head coach (Alex Hannum), depth (seven double-figure scorers) and basketball smarts (Brown and Moe also went on to become successful NBA head coaches) in league history. Class dismissed.